Lance Hornby, Toronto Sun

Lance Hornby has covered the Maple Leafs and the National Hockey League as a Toronto Sun beat writer and columnist going on 25 years. An avid historian and member of the Society for International Hockey Research, he has written, co-authored or edited six books, including the Story of Maple Leaf Gardens and Hockey's Greatest Moments. He has appeared on Sportsnet, TSN, CBC,and LeafsTV. Lance lives in Toronto-Riverdale.

If there was celebratory music, it was muted. If players were fist bumping or chest thumping, they did it behind the sliding doors that divide their private space from the public at the Air Canada Centre.

In the olden days, Maple Leaf fans —
and beat writers — could book June for
weddings, vacations and virtually
anything on the late spring calendar
without fear of conflict with the
hockey team in a playoff run.